AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13428, 21 May 1909, Page 7

AUSTRALIA.

United Press Association—By Eleotrio Telegrapti— Copyright.

THE AUSTRALIAN DESTROYERS, MELBOURNE, May 20.

The nine artificers selected by the Commonwealth to take part in the contraction of tLo Australian destroyers hare sailed' for London.

fiEQUESTS TO CHARITIES. ADELAIDE, Mey 20.

Several valuable city properties in the Martin Estate were sold for £56,000. Under tho terms of the will, the Adelaide Hospital received £21,000, the Children's Hospital £10,000 y and private beneficiaries the balance.

THE WEATHER. (Received May 20th, 8.55 p.iti'.')

SYDNEY, May 20. A stiff south-westerly gale is blowing, with heavy seas. Coastal shipping is sheltering. Further useful rain is falling, and spreading inland.

AUTOMATIC STAMPING MACHINE.

(Received May 21et, 1 a.m.) A satisfactory demonstration of the automatic stamping machine in nso in New"Zealand was given at the Chamber of Commerce. The Federal Government intend to adopt tho machine. A RESIGNATION. Mr Ashton has resigned his position as honoraTy Minister owing to pressure of private business. . BROKEN fcILL DISPUTE. The Broken Hill referendum resulted in 1773 votes being cast for/ and 1330 against the proposal to resume work. Although, the vote was ostensibly only on the question whether the Port Pirie men's action should be endorsed, tho result is accepted* as deciding tho Barrier trouble also. FROM. WEALTH TO POVERTY. , MELBOURNE, May 20. Francis Webster, the finder of tho famous Welcome Nugget, died in the Ballarat Benevolent Asylum, aged 74. He returned to Ballarat three years j ago, poor and in ill-health, and was compelled to seek shelter in the Asylum.